Nuclear Power

Question 1

Features of nuclear energy

Answer 1

very high energy density, non-renewable, high level of technological development, high embodied energy, high economic cost, politically controversial due to link with weapons

Question 2

Nuclear fission

Answer 2

Nuclear power that involves the splitting of the nuclei of large atoms such as uranium 235 and plutonium 239.

Question 3

Traditional sources of uranium

Answer 3

mining of uranium ore from minerals such as pitchblende

Question 4

New technologies for sourcing uranium

Answer 4

polymer adsorption in seawater, phosphate mining, processing of coal ash

Question 5

Future Nuclear fission

Answer 5

Molten salt reactors, plutonium reactors, thorium reactors

Question 6

Molten salt reactor

Answer 6

uses molten salt as a reactor coolant, can operate at higher temperatures and at safer, lower pressures

Question 7

Plutonium reactors

Answer 7

Nuclear fission reactors that use plutonium as the fissile fuel. Uranium 238 which is plentiful but not fissile is bombarded to produce plutonium 239

Question 8

Thorium reactor

Answer 8

A reactor that uses thorium 232 as a fertile fuel. Neutron bombardment converts the thorium 232 into uranium 233 which is fissile and releases energy.

Question 9

Advantages of thorium reactors

Answer 9

thorium more abundant than uranium, difficult to make weapons, less radioactive waste produced, shorter half life

Question 10

Disadvantages of thorium reactors

Answer 10

producing (breeding) uranium 233 from thorium is slow and expensive, new technology and development required, alpha radiation produced

Question 11

Arguments for nuclear

Answer 11

high energy density, no greenhouse gas emissions during energy production, reliable, low intermittency

Question 12

Arguments against nuclear

Answer 12

proliferation of nuclear weapons, difficulties dealing with radioactive waste, costs of decommissioning, public opposition due to well known reactor accidents, complex and expensive technology, high embodied energy of power stations

Question 13

Nuclear fusion

Answer 13

Nuclear power that involves the joining of the nuclei of small atoms such as hydrogen 2 (deuterium) and hydrogen 3 (tritium).

Question 14

Toroidal reactor

Answer 14

A nuclear fusion reactor in which hydrogen plasma is held in a torus: a ring-shaped tube.

Question 15

Conditions required for toroidal fusion

Answer 15

Hydrogen in the form of plasma, heavy nuclei (deuterium, tritium), very high temperature, vacuum, magnetic field

Question 16

Laser fusion

Answer 16

A developmental nuclear fusion technique that uses a laser beam to cause fusion in beads of frozen hydrogen. Causes expansion inwards as well as outwards which triggers fusion